Ahmad Esmaeili-Zadeh, the director of the Community Nutrition Improvement Office at the Ministry of Health, emphasizes the importance of nutrition in old age and states that nutrition is not limited to providing energy. What the elderly eat and drink throughout the day can have profound effects on their bone health, muscles, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
Preventing Common Aging Diseases
Esmaeili-Zadeh points out that preventing many common problems of aging begins in middle age with the correction of dietary habits. As people age, natural changes in the body, such as decreased feelings of hunger and thirst and reduced muscle mass, alter the nutritional needs of the elderly. Therefore, the attention of families and caregivers to the dietary patterns of the elderly becomes even more important.
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Nutritional Tips for the Elderly
The director of the Community Nutrition Improvement Office emphasizes that digestive disorders, constipation, and anemia due to vitamin B12 and calcium deficiency are among the problems that should be planned for prevention from middle age. He also considers physical activity, such as walking for 30 minutes daily, essential for maintaining bone health.
Esmaeili-Zadeh recommends vitamin D supplements for the elderly and emphasizes the importance of calcium intake from middle age. In addition, a diverse dietary pattern including dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and beneficial proteins should be included in the dietary plan for the elderly.
According to him, consuming two to three servings of fruit daily and reducing salt intake, especially in the diets of the elderly, is essential. Excess salt can lead to increased blood pressure and also increase the risk of stomach cancer.
Azita Hakmatdoost, a nutrition specialist, also emphasizes the importance of families paying attention to the fluid intake and meals of the elderly and suggests that the elderly have a water bottle available from the start of the day and gradually drink water throughout the day.
By correcting lifestyle and nutrition from previous years, many problems of aging can be reduced. Daily mobility, adequate water intake, and fiber consumption are among the recommendations that can help maintain the health of the elderly. In this regard, the role of families in reminding and accompanying the elderly is crucial.
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